Is this the year for the perpetual underdog Pacers?

It's an odd juxtaposition being around the Indiana Pacers franchise. On one hand, the state of Indiana is so rich in basketball history, its people so fanatical about the game, that one can't help but think it's close to basketball heaven.

But on the other hand, the Pacers franchise lives as a perpetual underdog — adored at home, but rarely respected nationally. The 2024-25 version is no different.

The small-market Pacers have tasted success throughout their history. They won three ABA titles in the late '60s and early '70s, and made a trip to the NBA Finals in 1999-00.

Since the '90s, there have been brushes with the top. But the Reggie Miller era ran into Michael Jordan's Bulls and eventually the beginning of the Lakers dynasty. The Jermaine O'Neal teams couldn't get past the Detroit Pistons. The Paul George era came at the same time as Miami's Big Three.

Always a bigger superstar. Always a bigger market.

It's even been an issue in-house. George is still booed on his return trips to Indy for a messy split in 2017 in which he criticized the organization for not trying hard enough to win championships. He was traded to Oklahoma City and later sought the glitz and glam of Los Angeles. 

Victor Oladipo arrived in the trade for George and was considered something of a hometown hero after starring at nearby Indiana University. Despite a strong honeymoon period, Oladipo left unhappy and has thrown shade at the organization since his 2021 departure to Houston and eventually Miami.

Enter Tyrese Haliburton.

He's the latest star to capture the hearts of Indy even if the national conversation isn't as kind to him. He's been the premier point guard of the playoffs just weeks after his peers voted him the most overrated player in the league in The Athletic's annual poll.

His response? 18.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and a league-best 11.8 assists per game in the postseason. He's already led Indiana past Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks, and then carved up the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers Sunday to steal Game 1 of the series.

Haliburton has embraced everything about the city, the franchise and the fans — fans yearning for a star to love them back like Miller once did. But gaining national respect has been harder to come by. He was named to the 2024 Olympic roster, but played a total of 26 minutes, receiving DNPs in the semifinals and finals.

He has the Pacers in the driver's seat though, and he's playing some of his best ball in the process. It begs the question: is this the year the perpetual underdog Pacers shed the label and rise to the top?

The climb is steep. If, and it's a big if, the Pacers advance past Cleveland, Boston or New York await in the Eastern Conference Finals. In the Finals, big markets and even bigger superstars await out West.

The Pacers are not a group of misfits or castoffs. Six former lottery picks are in the rotation along with two more former first-round picks. The team was swept in the Eastern Conference Finals by Boston last season, but lost three of the games by five points or less. 

The underdog label persists.

But with a star playing with a chip on his shoulder, there's no better time to shed the label and grab the nation's attention.